Appendix to item 10: Reports from Chairs of Commissions et al.
Permanent Institution on the History of Surveying

Report to the 22nd General Assembly
Sun City 30 May - 4 June 1999

1.  General

Since the Congress in Brighton the Bureau has agreed that the name should use the term International at the beginning instead of Permanent. The latter term will, however, still appear on headed paper as A Permanent Institution of the International Federation of Surveyors, together with the FIG red logo and the logo that was previously used by the ad hoc Commission.

The official address still remains:

Museum of History of Science
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3AZ
UK

2.  Meetings

Since the Brighton Congress the Board has met three times, all in London. Among the topics discussed are:

1. The Aims and Objects of the Institution were confirmed as those of the previous ad hoc Commission as given in paper I(1) of Melbourne FIG 1994.

2. Following the Resolution at Melbourne on the preservation of points on the Struve arc, steady progress continues to be made.

David Wallis visited Pulkovo Observatory near St Petersburg to make appropriate contacts and to see the Struve material stored there. Efforts are being made through a local contact to get copies made of relevant manuscripts (e.g. field observation sheets) for future use should any recomputation become feasible.

Jan de Graeve met Mr Cleere of ICOMOS (an office within UNESCO concerned with Heritage Monuments) to appraise him of our aims. The idea was very favourably received but progress in all such proposals is extremely slow.

Jim Smith is liaising with the Surveyor General's Dept in Finland who are making the necessary contacts and follow-up actions with the ten countries involved. These are Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Moldavia. Some difficulties have been met with Moldova which it is hoped can be overcome.

The aim is to have full documentation ready for submission by June 2000.

3.  Corresponding members

Efforts are in hand to build a comprehensive list of corresponding members consisting of both eminent individuals and of representatives of as many FIG national organisations as possible. Assistance in this is sought from National delegates to FIG and Jim Smith (who will be at the Sun City meeting) would be pleased to receive any suggestions.

In addition, close co-operation is hoped for with AIG and other national historical organisations and discussions are in hand

4. Forthcoming events

Prague 2000

It is hoped to have a series of presented papers and visits to appropriate museums and other places in Prague.

Seoul 2001

No plans yet in place. Any delegates from the Far East who have ideas on whether or not Historical input would be appropriate, please contact Jim Smith.

Washington Congress 2002

Plans are already underway to hold events in Washington similar to those of Brighton last year. The appointed US co-ordinator for this will be coming to London during July 1999 to further the plans.

Co-operation with, and participation in, other similar events mounted by other bodies is under discussion.

5.  Presentation

The series of Mitchell maps presented to the ad hoc Commission in Brighton are now on permanent display in the FIG building in Copenhagen.

6. Finance

This remains of some concern at present and various options for raising income are being considered.

7. Board

Director: Jan De Graeve
5 Ave de Meysse
1020 Brussels
Belgium
Tel. +32 2 26810 25
Fax +32 2 26210 33

Deputy Director:
Jane Insley
Science Museum
Exhibition Rd
London SW7 2DD
UK
Tel. +44 171 938 8110
Fax +44 171 938 8118
E-mail: j.insley@nmsi.ac.uk

Hon. Treasurer
David A Wallis
161 Cooden Drive
Bexhill on Sea
E Sussex TN39 3AQ
UK
Tel. +44 1424 842 591
Fax +44 1424 846 021
E-mail: 100532.2020@compuserve.com

Hon. Secretary
Jim R Smith
24 Woodbury Ave
Petersfield
Hants, GU32 2EE
UK
Tel/Fax +44 1730 262619
E-mail 101765.332@compuserve.com

Jan De Graeve
Director

20 April 1999